Reigning WPT World Champion Scott Stewart returned to the poker felt a month after winning his title, coming to northern California’s TVPokerRoom at Thunder Valley, winning two WSOP Circuit Rings.
Stewart took down the $600 6-Max and the closing $400 Series Finale, increasing his total to eight circuit rings on his fingers. While the two circuit event buy-ins did not amount to 10 percent of what it cost to enter the December WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas, Stewart remained the same jovial player he was back when ring No. 1 had yet to be earned.
Stewart wrapped up in time to join the PokerLiveUpdates crew at its post-series celebration, a rare-beer sampling at Porter’s House of Draft, a legendary craft beer location about 10 minutes from Thunder Valley.
In the postgame interview by PokerOrg’s Mike Patrick after Stewart won the 6-Max, he talked at length about how his love for the game of poker is not changing, and his desire to play, enjoy himself, and be around friends while doing so remains a major motivating factor as he goes forward as a WPT champion.
First-time ring winner Akbar Zamani collected $178,882 by winning the $500,000 Guarantee $1,700 Main Event, deafeating a 676-entry field that combined to created a prize pool in excess of $1 Million.
Other ring winners during the series included:
- Andrew Ostapchecnko – High Roller
- Emily Terry – 30/30
- Ivan Zarate – KO Bounty
- Ryan Awwad – $50k GTD NLH
- Lian Liu – Freezeout
All of the January 2025 WSOP Circuit Series at TVPokerRoom events and results can be found at our Live Updates page.
Our next WSOP Circuit Series for live reporting is Feb. 13-24 at Graton Casino in California’s Wine Country. Follow all the WSOPC Graton action on their Live Updates page.
We return to TVPokerRoom two days after WSOPC Graton completes for the first 2025 World Poker Tour series, taking place Feb. 27-March 19.
Dan is the founder of PokerLiveUpdates, a veteran poker tournament reporter who can be found wandering somewhat aimlessly through tournament arenas worldwide. As a founding member of FunTour2.0, he searches for the best in craft beer at all locations in the poker world.
